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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet I.

J. GRAHAM.

LUBRIOATOR.

No. 248,927. Patented N0v. 1, 1881.

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3 Sheets Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. GRAHAM.

LUBRIOATOR.

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1m vendor:

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

. J. GRAHAM.

LUBRIOATOR. No. 248,927. Patented Nov. 1,1881.

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IUNrrED STATES PATENT Orrtcn.

JOHN GRAHAM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND MOSES IV. JOHNSON, OF SAME PLACE.

LU B RI'CATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 248,927, dated November 1, 1881.

Application filed May 21,1881. (NoinodcL) To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN GRAHAM, residing at Ohicago,in the countyot' Cook andStatc of Illinois, and a citizen of the United States,

have invented new and useful Improvements in Lubricators, of which the following is a full description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation; Fig.2, a plan view of the oil-reservoir with the plug removed; Fig. 3, a side view of the upper portion of the reservoir; Fig. 4, a vertical section; Fig. 5, a plan view of the central branch coupling; Fig. 6, an end view of the central coupling; Fig. 7, a crosssection of the same; Fig. 8, an elevation of the oil-nozzle detached, and Fig. 9 a modification of the oil-feeding device.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction and operation of lubricators for steam pistons or cylinders and for otherpurposes; audits nature consistsin providingtherein a system of circulation for the water of condensation, by which drowning or stoppage is prevented by meansofan outside secondary connection, which returns all excess of condensation back to the steam-pipe; in applying there to a valve for regulating the circulation in a novel combination of the oil-reservoir and indi- 0 cator; in the application ofstrainers to prevent the fouling or stoppage of the oil-passages by dirt or dust; in the application of the oil-nozzle to the inside of the glass tubing, and in the combination ofdevices hereinafter seti'orth and 5 claimed.

I am aware that nozzles for passing oil into the center of a water-column have been here tofore used; but they have been located below the glass tube and fitted into the mountings 4.0 so that the glass tubes rested upon them. By my construction the nozzle is placed inside of the glass tube and supported by it, and is movable up and down therein, and by stopping the nozzle in the middle of the glass tube the 4 5 lower portion will operate as an indicator, and the upper portion, when filled with water, acts as a guide for the ascending oil.

In the drawings,A indicates the condenser; B, its supporting steam-tube; O, the central branch coupling; D, the section which connects them and leads to the steam-pipe; E, tube or coupling connecting the oil-reservoir with the central section; F, the oil-reservoir; G, metallic casing; H, glass lining of the indicator; I,'glass pipe connectingtheiudicator I with the central section; J K L, valve-stems provided with hand-wheels; M,plug for filling the opening in the oil-reservoir; N 0, cocks or valves for drawing water out of or'emptying the reservoir and indicator; to, steam inlet or passage leading to the interior of the tube B;

a, steam-passage in tube B; a, steam-pipein A; b, water-pipe leading through the tube B;

b, valve-seat and upper end of the tube Z); c, water-passage through the central coupling; 6 d, water-tube passing through the tube E and nearly to the bottom of the reservoir F; c 6, tube or passage connecting the reservoir with the indicator; f, oil-passage from the indicator to the tube I; 9, oil nozzle inserted within the tube I; h, passage or openingthrough thenozzle; i, packing around the nozzle; j, Fig. 7, vertical or inclined oil-passageinto the central coupling; k, oil-passage through and out of the central coupling; 1, oil-tube leading from the central coupling to the steam-pipe; m n, circulating-pipes; 0p q, packings; r, strainer at the outer end of tube 0; s, strainer in the feed-opening of oil-reservoir F; t t, couplingnuts for the tube 1; u, coupling-nut for tube D; c w, packing-nuts or stuffing-boxes for the valve-stems J K.

The tube I and the tube or lining H are usually made of glass,while the remaining portions are made of brass or other suitable metal and in the form or about the form shown. Acentral coupling or section, 0, is provided with three horizontal and two vertical projections. The vertical projections are used for coupling the tubes B I, the horizontal projections for 0 connecting with the steam-pipe the oil-reservoir, and for furnishing a support for the valve L, by which the flow of oil is regulated or cut oti'. This central section is provided, by drilling or otherwise, with the steam-passage a, the 5 water-passage c, and the oil-passagesj 7c. The projection with which the pipe D is connected is also provided with an opening, by which the voir F is connected with a central section by 1 pipe at is connected therewith. The tubes B b are of the ordinary construction, and upon them is supported the condenser A,which condenser may be ofany of the ordinary forms. The resermeans of the tube E and its curve or bent coupling. The pipe E supports the reservoir, and has leading through it the water-pipe d, which extends nearly to the bottom thereof. The reservoir is provided at the top with a filling-hole and a screw-plug, M. Across the filling-hole is placed the screen 8, which prevents the access of chips, shavings, or dirt when the plug is removed, and thereby obviates the difticulty of having one or more of the small pas' sages stopped or clogged by accumulating dirt.

The screen 1' is also placed in said reservoir so as to cover the end of the tube 0,- it may, however, be applied to the tube. This screen furnishes an additional security against dust or dirt; but it is not necessary to use both of these screens 1* 8, except in planing-mills or other places where it is exposed to much dust.

The indicator is composed of an exterior metal casing, G, and an interior glass tube or lining, H, which is supported by the tubes I e. The tube I is held in place by the coupling-nuts t t, and by placing the oil-nozzleg within its tube the tube does not require any paekings. The oil-nozzle, Fig. 8, has a small central passage, h, and a rubber ring or packing, 1', around it, which packing presses against the interior of the tube and holds the nozzle in any position in which itis placed. This construction avoids fitting around the nozzle, and makes its application easy and non-leaking.

The tube at leads by the passage n from the condenser down to the steam-passage a, with which it connects. The passage it forms the valve-seat for the valve K, by which the inflow of steam or outflow of water may be regulated.

The valve J extends through the condenser to the seat b, by which the outflow of water through the reservoir is regulated or stopped. By means of the valve L, the flow of oil from the indicator or reservoir to the steam-pipe is regulated or cut ofi".

In operation the steam passes in at the pipe D, through the passages a a, a, m, and n, and in starting the lubricator it also passes in at the pipes I, through the passages kj, to the tube I, where it is condensed and the tube I filled with water. The valve J is closed and the valve L opened to fill the tube I with water. The reservoir F and indicator H G are filled with oil. The steam condenses in the condenser A, and by lifting the valve J slightly from its seat b the water of the condenser passes down the pipe b, through the passages c d, into the bottom of the reservoir or below the oil. When the water-passages are filled the pressure is equalized with a slight hydraulic column, which, however, would not be sufficient to displace the oil, except in the difference in density or gravity between the two fluids--water and oil. The oil passes through the nozzle g, and from thence through the water-column in I to the passage j, past the valve L, into the passage Ir, and out of the pipe l. As the oil passes out its place is supplied by water flowing from the condenser A, which continues until the oil is exhausted. The stage of oil can be seen through the indicator H, which remains filled with oil as long as there is oil in the reservoir F below the level of the pipe 0. WVhen the water passes above this level it then passes into the indicator H, and by its superior density it passes to the bottom thereof and continues rising until theoil is nearly displaced from the indicator. The valve J is then closed, and the valves or cocks N O are then opened, and by loosening or removing the plug M to give them vent the water is discharged. When empty the discharge-cocks are closed, and both are refilled through the opening closed by the plug M, when the lubricator is again ready for operation.

In lubricators which have only a single connection with the steam-pipe the condenser is liable to getin a condition known as drowned, which is caused by the condensation being greater than the outflow and filling the condenser, so as to stop circulation and prevent the outflow of water by reason of the holding up of the water after the vacuum has been filled. To avoid this difficulty I have provided the condenser with the overflow-pipe m, which is connected with it by the passage n. The pas sage a may be formed by opening the end of the pipe m,- but I prefer to make it as shown, as a better provision for operating the valve is thereby made. When the condenser is filled up to the opening at the excess of water will flow through said opening, down through the pipe m, and out into the pipe D, so that it will be impossible to flood or drown the condenser. The amount of outflow can be regulated by the valve K, which is important, as with a rapid movement of the engine the outflow will be very slight, it any, and the passage may be closed; but in slow movements it is important, as the water of condensation then exceeds the outflow through the pipe I), when without the overflow at m the condenser would become filled with water and its operations cease.

By adjusting the valve L the lubricator can be made to feed a uniform quantity of oil in exact accordance with the movements of the piston, whether fast or slow. With the valve Kopen it is impossible to drown the condenser.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. The combination, with the coupling 0, having the steam-supply passage a, of the condenser A, the exterior circulating-pipe, m, connected with the steam-supply passage a, and having at its upper end a lateral pipe, 12, connected with the condenser, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with the coupling 0, having the steam-supply passage a, of the condenser A, the exterior circulating-pipe, m, con= nected with the steam-supply passage a, and having at its upper end a lateral pipe, a, connected with the condenser, and the valve K, extending into the lateral pipe n, all substantially as described.

3. The combination of the exterior pipe, m, the lateral pipe, n, the coupling 0, provided with the steam-passage a, the condenser A, the steam-tube 13, pipe a, the interior pipe, b, connecting the condenser with the coupling, and the valve J, passing through the condenser and adapted to enter the upper end of the pipe I), substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination of the coupling 0, having steam and oil passages a k, the exterior drainage-pipe, m, connected with the steamsupply passage a, having at its upper end a lateral pipe, n, provided with valve K, the condenser A, the steam-pipes B a, the waterpipes 11 c, the coupling E, the oil-reservoir F, and the indicator provided with connections to communicate with the reservoir and the oilpassage, the Whole being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described.

5. The nozzle 9, located and supported en-' tirely within the tube I, and in combination therewith, substantially as specified.

6. The combination of the strainer 8, arranged in the feed-supp] y mouth of the oil-reservoir F, for straining the supply of oil as fed into the reservoir, with the strainer 7', arranged in the end of the tube 6, which connects the indicator with the reservoir, for straining the oil JOHN GRAHAM.

Witnesses:

L. L. BONDL ALBERT H. ADAMS. 

